[nabs-l] New Computer

Wed Jul 18 02:17:25 UTC 2012

Tyler,

I apologize.  I can see that I should have waited until I had more brain to
write my response. Re-reading what I wrote now, I can see how what I wrote
looks, but it isn't really even what I meant, so it's pointless.  I'll just
shut up now, since I've obviously made myself look like a dumby.  LOL.  No
hard feelings.  Just the truth.  

I really do know more than that message made me look like.  I just did not
word it well.

Again, I apologize.  

Amber R. Herrin
ATI Student in Training 2012
World Services for the Blind
Mobile: (513) 593-5855
E-mail: herrinar at muohio.edu
2811 Fair Park Boulevard
Little Rock, AR 72204
"It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing"

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Littlefield, Tyler
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 9:05 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Computer

Your scenarios make no sense at all.
Yes, apple developed Voiceover, Freedom Scientific developed Jaws. 
Because FS is third party does not mean that the screen reader is going to
be irratic and it might just suddenly decide to send tentacles out your USB
port to gobble you up for lunch. Whether or not you get in touch with apple
or FS, or even GWMicro, they probably won't support a ton of third-party
programs. There are standards to make programs more accessible, which is
what Voiceover and windows readers use, so it's not just some unknown deal.
If your going to throw out scenarios, it really helps if you have an
understanding of the options and how things work before you work them out,
otherwise it just makes no sense and you're left with the message you just
popped out with.

Yes, You do get voiceover free on the MAC, but for $1400 I can buy an
amazing computer that isn't apple as well. I could also use NVDA, which no,
it's not installed by default, but it can very easily be installed and you
have not only the ability to buy a cheaper computer with non-proprietary
hardware, but you also have a free screenreader, which compares and exceeds
a lot of what voiceover can do. You mention scenarios and accessibility, so
here's a scenario for you.

You get an app on the mac, and vo+left/right doesn't work--what do you do.
Well, you can sort of automate things sometimes, assuming you can access
things through apple script, you might be able to do it with macros, but
this is a long shot. On windows you have more options--you can use the
object navigation or the jaws cursor, or you can write scripts for the app
itself, rather than some external slow clunky applescript mess.

I'm not going to totally trash OSX--I totally 100% love the accessible
install, and I love some of the apps--nothing I've ever seen beats mail on
OSX. I just want to discourage bad information just for the ability to
spread mac love.
On 7/17/2012 7:44 PM, Herrin, Amber R. wrote:
> Beth,
>
> Something you could add is that it is easier for you to get computer 
> and screen reader support because of the fact that it is integrated.
>
> Consider the scenario:
>
> Something, who knows what, pick your favorite (or least favorite, as I 
> like to do) program, and assume that something won't work.
>
> You get in touch with the developer of the program, and they say they 
> don't know whether or not their program is supported by our screen 
> reader, and anyway, your screen reader is a third-party app, so who 
> knows whose fault it really is?
>
> You call your screen reader of choice's tech support line, but, they 
> to, have no ideas.  We're sorry it's broken, but we really can't be 
> sure that every program is compatible with our screen reader.  If it's 
> not a popular program, you can't be sure of anything.  Maybe we need 
> someone to write scripts for it.
>
> Or:
>
> You discover that something doesn't work, so you call Apple.  Now, 
> Apple didn't develop this program, but they did develop the screen 
> reader, so they kno0w how it should interact with the computer, 
> whereas, there is no predicting what any given screen reader will do.
>
> It's cheaper to upgrade the operating system for apple's products, 
> which means, whenever the operating system is upgraded, the screen 
> reader is automatically upgraded.
>
> I could go on and on about this stuff.  If you'd like an actual 
> conversation about it, please feel free to use information located in 
> my signature.  I would be glad to talk Apple with you; I have iOs 
> devices as well as a Mac Mini.
>
> HTH,
>
> Amber R. Herrin
> ATI Student in Training 2012
> World Services for the Blind
> Mobile: (513) 593-5855
> E-mail: herrinar at muohio.edu
> 2811 Fair Park Boulevard
> Little Rock, AR 72204
> "It doesn't matter what you've heard
> Impossible is not a word
> It's just a reason
> For someone not to try
>
> Everybody's scared to death
> When they decide to take that step
> Out on the water
> It'll be alright
>
> Life is so much more
> Than what your eyes are seeing
> You will find your way
> If you keep believing"
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Beth
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 3:02 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Computer
>
> What would be a good case to plead? I would want to say that Voiceover 
> doesn't require a license key and all this money to update every two 
> minutes.  Well, maybe not every two minutes, but I want to know how I 
> could plead a good case.  It is cheaper in the long run to purchase a 
> Mac rather than a Windows PC.  Plus I could read the books I purchase 
> on Itunes.  I need help convincing rehab that a Mac is the way to go 
> for me and not the overly expensive and money-hungry Windows PC.  If 
> you have any further ideas, just email me off list.
> Thanks.
> Beth
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org Date sent: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:38:51 -0600
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Computer
>
> Beth,
>    Out here in Utah rehab's been known to buy macs if clients can 
> plead a strong enough case to go that route instead of windows.  I 
> might switch over eventually but, I love jaws, and although I also 
> love my iPhone, the learning curve to switch from jaws to voiceover, 
> on a desktop or laptop, seems rather steep to me right now.
>    Best,
> Kirt
>
> On 7/16/12, Valerie Gibson <valandkayla at gmail.com> wrote:
>   Yes mac has a word processor called text edit.  I don't think rehab 
> deals with macs??hey don't in my state any way.
>
>   Good Luck.
>   On Jul 16, 2012, at 11:12 PM, Beth wrote:
>
>   I'm in the market for a Mac.  I have a question about Macs.  Is 
> there a word processor for Mac?  Does it come with a Microsoft Word 
> for Mac or something?  I'm wondering because I need a computer for 
> college and rehab will probably be buying it when I give them my two
cents. ...
> Anyway,
>   that's all I have to say.
>   Beth
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com
>   To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>   Date sent: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:31:07 -0500
>   Subject: [nabs-l] New Computer
>
>   Good evening everyone,
>
>     If those of us in the market for new computers were gathered at 
> the national office for a seminar of some kind perhaps Dr. Maurer 
> would call us  "The New Computer Seminar." I have an HP Pavilion rig 
> that has served me  well for 8 years and will probably run for a while 
> longer. But when you know  the clock is ticking and you want an 
> information processing powerhouse  it's  time to shop for a new computer.
>
>     Last year we bought one for my wife quite unexpectedly. Now it's 
> my turn. We've had great success with HP and Dell computers so I'll 
> most likely  purchess one of those brands. Mary's desktop and my 
> laptop (The "Brains"
>   of
>   my recording operation) is a Dell. Both machines are serving us 
> well. My HP  has given me outstanding service too. If you use Windows 
> as your primary  operating system and you choose either of those 
> brands you can't go  wrong.
>
>     A Mac machine is further in the  future most likely in the form of 
> an iPhone, iPad, or a NetBook. Happy computer shopping.
>
>   Peter Donahue
>
>   ??o weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.??
>   Isaiah 54:17
>
>   ??hile for our princes they prepare
>   In caverns deep a burning snare,
>   He shot from heaven a piercing ray,
>   And the dark treachery brought to day.??
>   Anonymous
>
>
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--
Take care,
Ty
http://tds-solutions.net
The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that
dares not reason is a slave.

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